"We are the Goddesses of Revenge, the Torment, the Diras, the Erinyes, the Eumenides." ― The Three
The Three, often referred to as the Trinity are a sisterhood of three goddesses consisting of the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. They are supporting characters in the first season and the main antagonists of the second season.
History[]
Orpheus Quest[]
When Orpheus goes to the Underworld to try to resurrect Eurydice, the Three appear to him in the form of the Furies, but he persists in calling them the Kindly Ones and implores them to let him see Hades and Persephone. Later, when Hades orders Orpheus to sing for him, the son of Dream sings a melody so powerful that it raises the Souls of the Underworld while making the Furies weep. However, Persephone warns him that they may never forgive him.
Summoned by Dream[]
After freeing himself from his century-long imprisonment, Dream gathers offerings through dreams so that the Fates can tell him where his artifacts are. While the Crone initially refuses to help him as he once "helped" them against Circe, the Mother and the Maiden change her mind after Dream shows him his offerings. After "tasting" his offerings, the Fates allow Dream to ask three questions, but warn him that he will only be allowed one answer per question. As his first question, Dream asks where his sand pouch is, and the Maiden replies that it was sold in London and formerly owned by Johanna Constantine, whose ancestor Dream had known 300 years prior. Dream then wants to ask if Constantine still had the pouch, but rather than waste his second question, he asks what happened to his helmet, and the Mother replies that it was traded to a Demon for the Amulet of Protection. Dream then wants to ask which Demon the helmet was traded to, but rather than waste his third and final question, he asks who held his ruby, and the Crone replies that it was passed from a mother to her son. Dream wants to ask where the "mother" and "son" were, but the Fates yell at him that he had already asked his three questions, before disappearing.[1]
John's future[]
The Fates found John Dee in a diner, surrounded by bodies of innocent people. John inquired about his future, though they claimed he had no future. It was bound by walls and guards and the sour smell of madness. Additionally, they revealed that he'd stolen some of Dream's power and that he would take all of it before crushing the Dream Lord's life in his hands.[2]
Warning Rose[]
The Fates located Rose Walker in London and cautioned her to beware of dreams, houses, and the Corinthian. They also could've told her about Jed and Morpheus, but she failed to ask the correct questions.[3]
Advising Calliope[]
When their daughter Calliope begged for their help after having been acquired by Richard Madoc, the Three appear as the Graces, but explained that they could not help; she was lawfully bound and there were too few of the old powers who were willing or able to meddle in mortal affairs, as many had died, except the Endless. The Graces recalled that Dream and Calliope were close at one point, though they did not part on the best of terms, despite the fact that she did bear his child. Calliope replied that she would never accept the Dream King's help and that he wouldn't help her after what she did to him, but the Graces revealed to her that he too had been imprisoned by mortals and that her prayers had been wasted. Though apologetic, there was nothing the Graces could do to help.[4]
Warning Destiny[]
As Dream works to rebuild the Dreaming, Destiny receives a visit from the Three in their Grey Women form. They advise her to consult his Lexicon, then warn him that a ruler would renounce his realm, that life and death would tear each other apart in battle, and that the most ancient of battles would be about to resume.[5]
Judging Dream[]
While the Mother is sewing a scarf with Dream's life string, the Maiden opens a fortune cookie and discovers the prophecy they had previously made to Destiny. The Crone sees it as a sign that Dream had finally spilled the family blood and must therefore pay for it. The Maiden and the Mother want to remind that it was Orpheus who asked to die at his father's hands, but the Crone accuses them both of being too "soft" on Dream, she then cuts his string without hesitation.[6]
Dream’s Visit[]
To be added
Visiting Lyta Hall[]
To be added
Attacking the Dreaming[]
To be added
Physical Appearance[]
The Three are a trio of women whose clothing generally changes depending on the religious aspect by which they are called, but they always retain certain physical characteristics.
Maiden[]
The Maiden is a young brunette of youthful beauty, with light brown skin, long, light brown hair and brown eyes.
Mother[]
The Mother is a middle-aged woman with white skin, brown eyes, and dark brown hair streaked with gray.
Crone[]
The Crone is an old, decrepit woman with pale skin, a long nose, dark eyes, and fine grayish-white hair.
As the Fates[]
Like the Fates, they wear long grey robes with black veils.
As the Graces[]
As the Graces wear long white gauze dresses with golden brooches
As the Grey Ladies[]
As the Grey Ladies, the Three appear wearing grey dresses and robes.
As the Furies[]
As the Furies, they wear black dresses with golden ornaments and carry weapons ranging from torches, spears and whips in their hands.
Personality[]
The three are known mainly for their playful and evasive personality, they enjoy giving prophecies to questions they do not want to be answered or giving them through riddles to confuse those who give them. The Three are also shown to enjoy gifts and flattery, especially when someone is asking a favor for them.
As shown, despite the Three usually being united in their thinking, the Three do each have their own distinct personalities. As shown where the Maiden and Mother are considerably nicer and kinder to others in comparison to the Crone, who is noted to be much cruller and callous. This was fully displayed after Dream had killed his son to put an end to his immortality and centuries long suffering, where the Maiden and Mother displayed more sympathy towards Dream and understood the situation, unlike the Crone, who dismissed her other two sister selves as being too soft and quickly cut his life thread. Regardless of their personal feelings, the Three are committed to their duties and responsibilities as Goddesses and would follow their obligations as is their function. As shown where the Maiden and Mother ultimately pulled through with their duty to punish Dream for spilling family blood despite understanding that it was not done out of malicious intent.
Depending on which Aspect they appear and manifest as , the Three’s overall behavior can vary. In their typical aspect as The Three, they enjoy being whimsical , but wise, goddesses that offer bits and pieces of their vast knowledge to people who are ignorant of their powers and enjoy admonishing them for wasting their questions unknowingly. As the Graces, they are noted to be much kinder and wiser, as shown when they offered as much help as they were able to Calliope when she asked for their help. And as the Furies, they are noted to be considerably crueler and vicious, albeit still following the rules to which they may enact their function as punishers for those who break divine laws.
Powers and Abilities[]
As the Three[]
- Omniscience: As the Three, The Fates, and The Grey Ladies, they can see the past, the present and the future; they can know everything about a person, their origin, their life time and their death.
- Immortality: They are immortal and are considered as old as the Endless.
- Immortality Grants: Mad Hettie also made a deal with the Three in exchange for occasionally performing certain tasks for them, they would grant her an extension of her life on Earth, thus preserving her immortality.
- Hive Mind: Though the Three maintain distinct personalities, they operate as a unified consciousness a shared hive mind that allows them to act and speak as one. This is often shown by how they seamlessly finish one another’s sentences, as if their thoughts are intertwined.
- Magic: The Three, in several of their aspects, are known and worshipped as Goddesses of magic or are known as witches. With them having in depth knowledge of spells, potions, techniques and rituals alongside their immense and diverse magical powers.
- Shapeshifting and Embodiment: The Three possess many forms and incarnations according to religious and mythological beliefs—they are known as the Fates, the Moirai, the Norns, the Furies, and the Triple Goddess. In Sandman, they have the power to change their appearance and identity, transforming themselves according to circumstances, eras, or the needs of the story.
- Fate Manipulation: As Goddesses of Destiny, The Three possess some control over destiny, although to a lesser extent than Endless Destiny.
As the Furies[]
- Divine Punishment: As their aspect of the Furies or the Kindly Ones, The Three are able to inflict divine punishment on those who break divine law, with them stating to typically do so by inflicting self-destructive madness at their victim. As shown, their power over divine retribution is immense, allowing them to even overpower one of the The Endless should they break the laws they are bound to. As shown where after Morpheus had killed Orpheus, the Three were within their rights to kill/punish him in retaliation for breaking the ancient law over killing kin. With Morpheus being completely and utterly helpless to defend his realm from their rampage as the Furies began unraveling The Dreaming.
Weaknesses[]
- Ancient Rules: Like The Endless, The Three are bound to a set of ancient rules that they cannot break or go against. One of which prohibits them from directly attacking and destroying another being unless they are guilty of breaking the ancient rules they are bound by. As shown where despite the Three, in their aspect as the Furies, held a grudge against Orpheus for making them cry, they were unable to retaliate against him due to him breaking no ancient law.
- Death: Like all beings within the universe, The Three are not immune to Death, as even Gods will one day die and should they anger her enough, Death herself is perfectly capable of ending them. As shown where Death was able to threaten them to back off when she came to collect Morpheus after he chose to willingly die to save his realm.
- Higher Entities: Even though the three are former goddesses of great power, they still fear entities greater than themselves, such as Death or the parents of the Infinites, such as Night. It is also suggested that if her son remained with her, the three would not dare enter her realm.
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- Chapter 2: Imperfect Hosts
- Chapter 5: 24/7
- Chapter 7: The Doll's House
- Chapter 11: Dream Of A Thousand Cats/Calliope
Season 2[]
To be added
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 1 Chapter 2: Imperfect Hosts
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 1 Chapter 5: 24/7
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 1 Chapter 7: The Doll's House
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 1 Chapter 11: Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 2 Chapter 12: Sleep of the Just
- ↑ The Sandman, Season 2 Chapter 22: A Tale of Graceful Ends